Historic Huguenot Street (HHS) was recently awarded with scholarship money from Lucille Stoeppler Baker to assist undergraduate students studying historical anthropology. The organization has been a name in Hudson Valley education for hundreds of years and boasts their commitment to current and historical higher learning.
The mission statement of HHS is “to collect, preserve and share with the public an inspiring story of an American community as it evolved from the 17th century to the present day.”
The scholarship, offered for this first time this year, requires applicants to hold an academic average above 3.5 for two years to qualify, and all HHS scholarships are ineligible to first-year applicants. Applications are closed for the 2011-2012 academic year, but interested students can apply through the organization’s website.
“I’ve heard a lot of great things about the work that Historical Huguenot Street does,” said fourth-year student Jen Herman.“They really support students’ research and are awesome for the community.”
Herman, of Troy, N.Y., has grown up learning about the Huguenots and has learned more about the organization while studying at New Paltz. The college itself, HHS boasts on their website, was built in New Paltz following a tradition of academic excellence started by these early settlers. With names like Deyo, DuBois, LeFevre and Hasbrouck appearing on buildings and street signs all over the town and campus, the Huguenots hold a permanent place in the history and legacy of the Hudson Valley.
HHS works hard to preserve the historical remnants of the area’s first settlers through their own research and community education, as well as through scholarships.
“Many of the scholarships are solely for students of Huguenot descent,” said a representative for the organization.“All of the information on how to apply is on our website.”